Associating mechanism



June 15 1926.

E. P. SHELDON ASSOCIATING MECHANISM 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31

June 15 1926.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 51. 192:

E. P. SHELDON ASSOGIATING MECHANISM June 15, 1926. v 1,589,251

Filed Jan. 51, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J2 lZ WM A'r'r'vs.

Jun 15, 1926.

E. P. SHELDON ASSOCIATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 II I FIN HUI INVENTORV Patented June 15 1926.

UNITED STATES PATIENT, OFFICE.

EDWARD P. B EILDOH, OI NEW YORK, N. Y., ASBIGNOE'B Y mum ABSIGMITSiTO B. HOE AND (IO/INC 0! NEW YORK, H. Y., A CORPORATION 0] NEW YORK.

assocwrnre Application filed January 31,1988. Serial Io. 615,979.

printed products, as for instance, pamphlets, magazines, orthe like it may be desirable to dellver these roducts in sets made up of a predetermined number of units, these units being associated so that they may be arranged in sets in a predeter mined way, as for instance, a set made up of three consecutive volumes. In the production of these products, the products are usually printed on webs which are associated and stitched together, these webs being ar-.

' ranged two or more products wide and then slitted or divided to form two or more volumes or units of the set. It is, furthermore, desirable in handling this class of products that the sets be delivered so that the units comprising one set may be readily separated from the units of a preceding or succeeding set in order to facilitate further handling that may be necessary, such as renumbering each set separately for distribution.

It is the especial object of the present invention to provide a construction in which a plurality of printed products may be forwarded side by side and then. arranged in line with each other to form sets, each set having'a predetermined number of products for delivery so that, for instance, if it is desired to form a set having three volumes the products may be delivered with the units forming the separate volumes numerically arranged-in sequence. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a construction in which a pinrality of products may be printed side by side, forwarded and folded and then separated to form the desired units, these units thereafter being delivered arranged in the desired sets.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means whereby each set of units may be delivered in such a manner that it is readily distinguishable or may readily be separated from a preceding and'succee ing set for convenience in counting or such other handling as may be desired.- I

With these and other objects, not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements. and comb nations, which will be described In connection with the accompanying drawmgs,

and the novel features thereafter pointed out in the claims hereunto ap nded.

Refernngnow to these drawings- 4 Figure 1 1s a side view, artly in section and partly broken away of associating mechanism as is necessary for an understanding of the invention.

' F1gure 2 is a similar view of art of the construct1on shown in Fig. 1, s owing the mechanism in a difierent pgsition.

Figure 3 is an end view, partly in section andpartly broken away, of the construction llustrated m Fig. 1, the viewbein taken in the direction of arrow 3 of that gure.

F1gure 4 is a partial plan view, the view being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Flgure 5 is a sectional plan view, partly broken away, the. View being taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Figure '6 is a partial sectional lan view of one end of the delivery box an adjacent parts showing the position of the units before associating.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the umts associated.

Ifigure 8" is a ers tive view of the assoclated units w on ended and ready for distribution. I

Referring now to these drawings the machine chosen to illustrate the invention in cludes means for folding an associated product which has been printed and associated three units wide, means being provided for dividing this-product into the predetermined number of units. It will be understood, however, that as to certain features of the invention, the invention is not limited to a so" much of an machine thus constructed, but that the units tion which have been divided prior to their reaching such mechanism, or such units may have been separately printed and forwarded for association. Furthermore, in the construction selected to illustrate the invention, means are provided for handling units which may be divided into groups or sets of three. But it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to such number of units but that the units may be arranged in sets of other numbers.

In the specific construction illustrated, a collected printed product stapled or stitched on the fold line is forwarded from any suitable printing machine, not shown, to a forwarding cylinder 1, from which it is transferred to a folding cylinder 2 provided with folding jaws 2 by which the final fold is given the collected product, this folding cylinder being arranged so as to deliver the product with the folded edge foremost.

- This folding cylinder delivers the product to and between spaced guides 3, 4. Where, as in the particular construction illustrated, the collected folded product is a plurality of units wide, each unit forming one of a set, means are provided for dividing this product into the separate units. While these means may be somewhat varied, in the particular construction illustrated, there is provided a pair of spaced slitters 5 by which the collected product is divided into three units.

In machines embodying the invention in its best form, means will be provided whereby the products which are to be associated into sets may be arranged for final delivery in such a manner that each set is readily distinguishable from a preceding or succeeding set. While this may be accomplished in various Ways, in constructions embodying the invention in its best form, this will be accomplished by reversing the products of succeeding sets, that is, turning the product so that three products, for instance, will be delivered with the folded edge down and the next three products with the folded edge up. While the specific mechanism for effecting this turning or reciprocating of the products may be varied within wide limits, in the particular construction illustrated, the

separate products are forwarded side by side a to what may be termed a reversing pathway, this pathway, in the construction shown, comprising sets of spaced guides 6 and 7 these guides being in the form of plates, a sufficient number of these plates being provided across the machine to effect a guiding function. These guides are connected to and operated by an actuator, generally indicated by the numeral 8, this actuator member being capacitated to have a rotary movement and being suitably journaled in the side frames 9, 10 of the machine. This actuator,-

in the particular construction illustrated, is in the form of a pair of bars 8' terminating in heads 8" (see Fig. 4). This actuator is operated to effect a reversal of the guides, by means of a gear 11 carried on one of the heads and a cam 12 carried on the opposite head, this gear and cam co-o-perating with operating connections, hereinafter referred to.

(Jo-operating with this path shifter is a suitable mechanism for stopping alternate sets of products, so that these products may be reversed. While this mechanism for stopping the products during their reversal may be somewhat varied, in the particular con"- struction illustrated, there is provided a stop plate 13. This stop plate is mounted to have areciprocating movement under the/ guides 6, 7, and is provided with an aperture or slot 14. The movement of the plate is timed so that when the products are being forwarded by the slitters down theguides 6, 7 with the folded edge forward this aperture 14 is' under the guides and permits the passage through the plate of the products which pass into the bite of a pair of forwarding rolls 15, 16, as shown in Fig. 1.

After one group of products has thus passed through the plate, the plate is mampulated so that the next set passing down the guides 6, 7 strike against the surface of the plate which acts to stop the products. The parts are timed so that when this takes place the rotary path! shifter 8 is given a half revolution. This movement of the path shifter 8 reverses the position of the guides 6, 7 between which the products are held with the result that the productsare turned so that the folded edge is up. Thus when the products are forwarded to the final delivery the sets of products are so arranged that each set may be readily separated from the adjacent sets. After this reversal of the products has taken place the stop plate 13 is again reciprocated to bring the openlng 14 in line with. the guides so that the products may pass through the opening and into the bite of the forwarding rolls 15, 16. To forward the products into the bite of these rolls feeding means are employed in mesh with a rack bar 20 which reciprocates in guides 21 mounted on a bed plate 22. This rack bar is reciprocated in any suitable Way. In the particular construe-- tion illustrated the lower end of this rack bar is secured to a lever 23 (see Fig. 5) on a short shaft 24 suitably mounted 'in framing 202. carries an arm 25 on which is a cam fork 26 having a cam roll 203 which engages a cam 27, this cam 27 being formed with a gear 28. This gear 28 engages with a gear 29 on a shaft 30 driven from any suitable power source, this shaft being suitably journaled in the framing 202, before re ferred to.

The gear cam 27 is mounted on a shortshaft 31, to the inside end of which there is secured a cam 32 (see Fig. 1) with which co-operates a cam roll 204 (see Fig. 3) on This shaft 24 at its other end a forked rod 33 which is connected at its other end to one end of a lever 34 'ivoted at 205 in a bracket 206 secured to t e side frame 10, before referred to. The other arm of this lever is secured to a bar 34' secured to a lever arm 35 on a rock shaft 36 suitably journaled in the frames 9, 10, before referred-to, on which rock shaft the fingers 17 are carried, these fingers being thus operated by a rocking movement of the shaft.

In machines constructed in accordance with the invention, means are provided for preventing the products from being dislaced from the guides during their reversmg movement. While the means employed for this may be somewhat varied, in the best constructions there are provided a pair of bars 37, 38 (see Figs. 1 and 4), these bars being carried at each end on supports 39, 40, these supports 39, and 40 in turn being mounted in brackets 41 (see Fig. 3) secured to the side frames 9, 10, before referred to. These bars have secured thereto a series of curved guides 42, 43, these guides being spaced apart to permit the rotation there- 'between of the rotary guides 6, 7, before referred to, and acting to keep the products in position between these rotary guides.

Suitable mechanism is provided for re ciprocating the stop plate 13, before referred to, which mechanism may be varied somewhat in construction. In the structure shown the support 40 carries bearings 44 in which is mounted a rock shaft 45 on which are carried fingers 46 by which the plate is operated, these fingers taking through suitable apertures .in the plate. This plate is supported by a pair of bars 47. 48, the bar 48 extending across the machine and being supported in the side frames 9, 10, before referred to, and the bar 47 being supported from the support 39, before referred to. To permit of the reciprocating movement of the plate, the plate at the points where it issupported from the bars 47, 48 is, slotted, as indicated at 49, in which slots work the pins 207 by which the plate is secured to the bars.

The rock shaft 45 by which the operating fingers 46 are actuated is rocked in any suitable manner. In the particular construction illustrated, this is effected by the provision of a cam lever 50 secured on one end of the shaft, this lever carrying a cam roll 208 (to-operating with the cam 12, before referred to, on the head 8 of the rotary member 8. lhe shaft is rocked against the usual spring rod construction 50 secured on the other end of the shaft by which the plate is returned after it has been reciprocated.

\Vith the construction so far described the products are forwarded side by side in sets of three, the products in a set being arranged in reversed position from that of the products in a preceding orsu ing set. In accordance with the invention these products are to be arrangedin bunches, that is, in line with each other as distinguished from theside'by side position in which they are forwarded, and .a machine constructed in accordance with the invention will include devices whereby this may be accomplished, so that the products may be finally delivered in bunches with the units arranged in the desired order for wrapping or other handling, a bunch of three of these products being indicated in Fig. 8, these products being marked 51, 52 and 53.

While this associating of the. products may be effected in various ways, in the particular construction illustrated, after the products leave the forwarding rolls 15 16, before referred to, they are directed to guides which act to position them so that they are out of a sidewise alignment with each other so that they can be moved into line to form the set or bunch. While this may be effected in various wa s, in the particular construction illustrate (see Fig. 6), the guides are provided so arranged (see particularly Fig. 6) that the front and rear products 51 and 53 of the group will occupy positions at the sides of the center product 52, as shown in said Fig. 6, the products I thus being arranged out of line with each other. This arrangement of the products is effected b suitable guides 209,210, best shown in igs. 1 and 2. With the products thus arranged the front and rear products may-be moved sideways to occupy a position in the front and the rear of the product 52 after which they may be delivered in groups or bunches by mechanism hereinafter referred to.

While the particular construction for effecting this sidewise movement of the front and rear products may be somewhat varied, in the particular construction illustrated, there are provided slots 54, 55 (see particularly Fig. 2) in which operate slides 56, 57. These slides are operated, in the particular construction illustrated, by racks 211, 212 (see Fig. 1), the rack 211 meshing with a gear 61, and the rack 212 meshing with a gear 62, these guides reciprocating in guidewa-ys 58, 59 and 60 formed in the walls of the slot-s, before referred to. These gears are driven from a cam 63 on the power shaft 30, before referred to, from which through a roll 213 motion is transmitted to a segment lever 64 best shown in Fig. 1, which acts on a gear 65 and through a train of intermediate gears 66, 67 and 68 (see Fig. 5) drives the rack gear 61. On the shaft 69 which carries the ears 61 and 68 is'secured a gear- 70 (see-Pig. 5) which engages an intermediate gear 71 on a shaft 214 on which is carried the rack gear 62, before referred to, and by which this gear is driven.

The shafts by which the gears are supported are suitably journaled in brackets 215 depending from the under side of the bed plate 22. before referred to, and these gears are so proportioned and timed as to produce the correct reciprocation of the slides 56, 57, before referred to.

In constructions embodying the invention in its best form these slides on their upper 'face are provided with pushers 72, 73 (see Fig. 6) aligned within the guideways of the front and rear products 51 and 53 so that when the slides are operated the front and rear products are moved until they are abreast the center product 52.

The products thus being grouped are finally delivered in any suitable way. In the particular construction illustrated, there is provided a reciprocating pusher 74 which acts to push the products into the delivery box 75, as shown in Fig. 7. This pusher may be operated in any suitable manner. In the particular construction illustrated, there is provided on the power shaft 30, before referred to, a cam 76 (see Fig. 1) with which co-operates as shown, a cam roll 77 carried on a forked lever 78. This lever takes over a pin 79 on the shaft 80 of the pusher, this shaft 80 being supported in brackets 81, 82 carried 'from the bed plate- 22, before referred to. The cam roll 77 is held in position on the cam 76 by means of a spring rod construction 83 (see Fig. 5).

With the construction shown and described, the products may be associated in,

sets having the desired number of units and arranged in the desired way, as for instance, volumes 1, 2 and 3 of a publication, and

these sets are delivered so that they may be readily separated for bundling or other further handling. While the invention has been shown and described in its preferred form, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of associated products side by side, means for associating the products into separable sets of an equal number of products, and means for delivering the associated sets.

2. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of associated products side by side, means for shifting certain of the products relatively to the others to associate them into separable sets of an equal number of products, and means for delivering the associated sets.

. 3. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of products side by side, means for associating the products into bunches or sets of a predetermined number,

means for distinguishing a bunch or set from a preceding or succeeding bunch, and means for delivering the associated and bunched products.

4. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of folded products sideby side, means for associating the products into separable sets of an equal number of products, and a delivery for the associated sets.

5. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of folded products side by side, means for associating the products in bunches or sets in a predetermined order, means for distinguishing a bunch or set from a preceding or succeeding bunch, and a delivery for the associated bunches.

6. The combination of means for forward ing a plurality of folded products side by side, means for moving certain of the products sidewise relatively to another product to cause the products to line up, .and a delivery.

7. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of folded products in the same widthwise pathway, means for changing the pathway of certain of the products, means for moving the changed products sidewise to associate all the products in line, and a delivery.

8. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of folded products side by side, means for moving certain of the products sidewise relatively to another product to cause the products to line up in a bunch, means for distinguishing a bunch from a. preceding or succeeding bunch, and a delivery.

9. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of folded products in the same widthwise pathway, means for changing the pathway of certain of the products, means for moving the changed products sidewise to associate all the products in a bunch, means for distinguishing a bunch from a preceding or succeeding bunch, and a delivery.

1,0. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of folded products which are to form a set, and means for delivering the sets vertically with the fold lines of adjacent sets in different relative positions. I

11. The combination of means for simultaneously forwarding a plurality of products, means for reversing the position of an equal number of the products relatively to a products in a vertical position, means forreversing the fold edge of an equal numberof products relatively to a similar number of products preceding or succeeding them to succeeding bunch.

render the products easilyseparable, and a deliver 'ly.

13. he combination of means for forwarding a collected product, means for di-- viding the collected product into a plurality of products, means for forwarding the products side by side, and means for associatin the products in line to form separable unches or set of an equal number of products.

14. The combination of means for forwardinga collected product, means for dividing the collected product into a pluralif ty of products, means for forwarding the roducts side by side, means for associatmg the products in bunches, and means for distinguishing a bunch from a preceding or 15. The combination of means for forwarding a collected product, means 'for dividing the product into a plurality of products formin a set, means for forwarding the sets, an means for arran ing the sets for delivery so that each set is istinguished from a preceding or succeeding set.

16. The combination of means for for-v warding folded products in sets of an equal number of products, and means for arran ing the sets for delivery so that the I fo d lines of" alternate sets are in reversed positions.

17. The combination of means for forwarding a collected product, means for foldiug the roduct, means for dividing the fold ed pro not into a plurality of products forming a set, and means for arranging the sets for delivery so that the fold lines of alternate sets are in reversed positions.

18. The combination of means for forwarding a collected product, means for folding the product, means for dividing the collected product into a piuraiity of products, means for forwarding the products side by side, and means for associating the prodnets in line to form abunch or set.

19. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side in difierent paths, means for moving the outside prod ucts inwardly to associate them in line with another product, and a delivery for delivering the associated products in line.

20. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side in a straight path, switches for changing the pathways of certain of the products, reciprocating slides for moving the products into linewith another product, and means for delivering the associated products in line.

21. The combination of means for forwarding a collected product, means for dividingthe product into a plurality of prodnets and forwarding them side by side in a straight pathway, switches for changing the pathways of certain of the products, reciproeating slides for moving the products into line with another delivering the associated product in line.

22. The combination of means 'for forwarding folded products a guide to which the products are forwarded, and means'for moving the guide and products to reverse the position of certain products relatively to preceding ones.

23. The combination of means for forwardin folded products a guide to which the pro nets are forwarded, and means for rotating the guide and products to change the fold line position 'of certain products relatively to preceding ones.

24. The combination of means for forwardin products side by side in sets, a guide t rough which the products are for.- warded, means for stopping alternate .sets of products, and means for moving the guide to change the position of a stopped set relatively to a preceding set,

25'. The combination of means for forwardin products side by side in sets, a guide t rough which the products are forwarded, means for stopping alternate sets of 'productsin the guide, and means for rotating the guide to change the fold line position of a stopped set relatively to apreceding set.

1 26. The combination of means for forwarding products,-a guide through which the products are forwarded, means for rotating the guide and products to change the fold line relatively to preceding products, and means for holding the products in the guides whiie rotating.

27. The combination of means for forwarding products, a guide through which the products are forwarded, means for to tating the guide and products to change the product, and means for fold line reiatively to preceding products,

vguide, means for reciprocating the plate to stop a product, and means for moving the guide to change the position of a stopped product.

30. The combination of means for forwarding products, a guide through which the products are forwarded, a sto plate having an aperture registerable with the guide through which guide, means for reciprocating the plate to stop a product, and means for rotating the guide and product.

31. The combination of means for forwarding products, a guide through which the products are forwarded, a stop plate having an aperture reglsterable wlth the guide, means for reciprocating the plate to stop a product, means for rotating the guide and product, and fixed guides for holdmg the product in the guide while rotatmg.

32. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side in sets, a guide through which the products are forwarded, means for stopping certain sets of products, means for movlng the guide to change the position of the stopped sets, means for forwarding the products from the guide side by side but out of line, and means for lining up the products to form a bunch from each set.

33. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side in sets, a guide through which the products are forwarded, means for stopping certain sets of products, means for moving the guide to change the position of the stopped sets, switch guides for forwarding the products side by s1de but out of line, means for moving certain products of a set sidewise to line them up, and means for bunching the lined up products.

34. The combination of means for forwarding products, a guide through whlch the products are forwarded by the forwarding means, means for stopping certainof the products, means for moving the gulde to change the position of the stopped products, and means contacting with the products for forwarding them past the stopping means.

35. The combination of means for forwarding products, a guide through which the products are forwarded by the forwarding means, means for stopping certain of the products, means for moving the guide to change the position of the stopped products, fingers contacting with the products for forwarding them past the stopping means, and means for actuating the fingers.

36. The combination of means for forwarding folded products, spaced guides through which the products are forwarded, a rotary support for the guides, a power shaft, and gear connections between the shaft and the support.

37. The combination of means for forwarding folded products, spaced guides through which the products are forwarded,

port, a power shaft, connections from the shaft to the gear, a movable stop below the guides, and connections from the support for operating the stop.

39. The combination of means for forwarding folded products, spaced guides through which the products are forwarded, a support for the guides, a gear on the support, a power shaft, connections from the shaft to the gear, a reciprocating stop plate, and a cam on the support for reciprocating the plate. I

40. The combination of means for forwarding folded products, a guide through which the products are forwarded, a movable stop having an aperture registerable with the guide below the same, switches in line with the guide below the plate, and a stacker operable to deliver the products in bunches or sets.

41. The combination of means for forwarding folded products in a vertical position side by side in sets with the fold line in the same position, a guide through which the products pass, means for rotating the guide as alternate sets pass to it to reverse the fold line of such sets, and means for delivering the sets in line. I

42. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side but out of line, slides to which the outside products are delivered, and means for reciprocating the slides to associate the products in a bunch, and a delivery.

43. The combination of means for forwarding an odd number of products side by side but out of line, means for moving the outside products into positions in front and back of the center product to associate the line into a set or bunch, and a delivery.

44. The combination of means for forwarding an odd number of folded products side by side but out of line with the fold edges of a line reversed relatively to a preceding line, means for moving the outside products into positions in front and back of the center product to associate the lines into sets or bunches, and a delivery.

45. The combination of means for forwarding an odd number of products side by side but out of line, means for moving the outside products into positions in front and back of the center product to associate the line into a set orbunch, and a pusher delivery.

46. The combination of means for forwarding an odd number of folded products side by side but out of line with the fold edges of a line reversed relatively to a preceding line, means for moving the outside products into positions in front and back of the center product to associate the lines into sets or bunches and a pusher delivery.

47. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side but out of to which the outside products pass from the and a pusher for removing the products from the slides and delivering them. 49. The combination of means for forwarding folded products side by side, means for reversinglthe fold line of certain ofthe products wit respect to preceding products, switches through which the products are delivered side by side but out of line, slldes switches, and means for reciprocating the slides to associate a line of products into a bunch or set.

50. The combination of means for forwarding folded products side by'side, means for reversing the fold line of certain ofthe products with respect to preceding products, switches through which the products are delivered side by side but out of line,

slides to which the outside products pass.

from the switches, means for reciprocating the slides to associate a line of products into a bunch or set, and a pusher for delivering the associated bunches or sets.

51. The combination of means for for warding a set of products side by side, means for changing the position of the products of certain sets relatively to those of a preceding set, means for then forwarding the products side by side but out of line, means for lining up the products of each set to form a bunch, and a delivery for the bunches.

52. The combination of means for forwarding an associated'product, means for dividing the product into a plurality of products to form a set, means for forwarding the products side by side, means for changing the position of the products of certain sets relatively to those of a preceding set, means for then forwarding the products side by sidebut out of line, means for lining up the products of each set to form a bunch, and a delivery for the bunches.

53. The combination of means for forwarding a set of folded products side by side, means for reversing the fold line of the products of certain sets relatively to those of a preceding set, means for then forwarding the roducts side by side but out of line, means or lining up the products of each set to form a bunch, and a delivery for the bunches.

54. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of associated products in the same widthwise pathway, means for I changing the athway of certain of the products, means or moving the changed products sidewise to associate all the products in line, and a delivery.

55. The combination of means for forwarding a plurality of folded productsoin the same widthwise pathway which are to form a set, means for changing the pathway of certain of the products, means for mov-' ing the changed products sidewise to associate the products in line, and means for delivering the sets with thefold lines of adjacent sets in difi'erentrelative positions.

'56. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side in sets, a guide to which the products are forwarded, means for stopping certain'sets of products, and means for moving the guide to change the position of a stopped set relative to a preceding set.

57. The combination of means for forwarding folded products side by side in sets, a guide to which the products are forwarded, means for stopping certain sets of products, and means for rotating the guide to change the fold line position of a stopped set relatively to a preceding set.

58. The combination of means for forwarding folded products side by side in sets, a guide to which the products are forwarded, means for stopping certain sets of products, means for rotating the guide to change the fold line of a stopped set relatively to a'.

preceding set, means to which'the products are delivered from the guide for forwarding the products side by side but out of line,

and means for lining up the products into a bunch.

59. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side in sets, switches to which the products are forwarded for arranging the products side by side but out of line, and means for lining up the products to form a bunch.

60. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side in sets, switches to which the products are forwarded for arranging the products side by side but out of line, means for lining up the products to form a bunch, and a delivery for the bunched products.

61. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side but out of line, holders to which the outside products" are delivered, means for effecting a movement of the holders to associate the products from the power shaft for oppositely reciprocating the slides.

64. The combination of means for forwarding products side by side but out of line. holders to which the outside products are delivered, a power shaft, and connections from the shaft for moving, the holders in opposite directions to associate the products in a bunch.

65. The combination of means for forwarding an odd number of products side by side but out of line, holders to which the outside products are delivered, means for operating the holders to associate the outside products before and behind the center product to form a bunch, and a delivery.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EDlVARD P. SHELDON. 

